It was befitting that the 50/70 baseball contest between Federal Little League and the Fort Lauderdale Little League Cardinals would end in a 6-6 tie at Holiday Park. It was a Fall Ball baseball game in which coaches on both sides were more interested in player development than winning or losing a baseball exhibition match-up.

The 50/70 format is for players in the 11 to 13 age range and is a learning ground for players competing at the longer pitching distance of 50 feet and extending the Little League bases to 70 feet. At this distance, stealing is allowed at any time and pitchers are taught pick-off moves and learn how to hold runners on.

Fort Lauderdale Cardinals coach Joe Hess fielded a young team so the players could gain valuable experience heading into the spring season. Federal League coach Gary Cherveny shared the same philosophy and implored his players to be aggressive at the plate and take their hacks.

The 11 teams participating in the 50/70 Fall Ball league came from Fort Lauderdale Little League, Federal League, North Springs Little League and Coral Springs Little League.

The Federal League has been competing in the 50/70 format for the last four years, while this is a new territory for Fort Lauderdale Little League.

“With Fall Ball I don’t even bother keeping records or the books,” Cherveny said. “We are big on instructing the kids in between innings and encouraging them to be aggressive and not worry about making mistakes. The Fort Lauderdale coaches are a bunch of great guys who have all the kids’ best interests at heart. This is all about tune-up time and bringing up the younger kids to gain experience. Come springtime, it’s another story.”